The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-07-01

these TWO were Walking Qultc SLOW
". When Colonel Bradish's attention
was first directed to them. Mr.. Bar
rington was in the very act of declar-
ing his passion to Miss Marble. and
urging her to look favorably upon it
A widespread belief that declarations
of this kind are usually made by moon
light or gaslight is certainly erroneous.
This one was launched in broad day
light. though near sunset. The man
spoke earnestly. with some unnecessary
repetition. and urged an immediate
answer.
IL have reason to believe that your
father is pleased with me-" he con-
cluded.
Il have no father" she evasively re-
piled.
..why.: knew the Colonel was not
your own father; but l supposed he re-
garled you rs his child"
'.Indeed he Does" she quickly said.
"And l never precisely understood
the peculiar relationships of the
Colonel's house." added Mr.. Barring
ton. leading her to prOcrastinate in her
answer to his suit, as though he feared
the answer.
ssMy mother was a widow, and his
first wife. A few years after her death
he married his present wife. who was
also a widow. and the mother of Ram
som Kenyon"
"Ah-I perceive. And. OF course.
the Major and you were much like
brother and sister,"
mot i'm the least" was the decided
reply. He was several years older
than !. and all through my girlhood he
was away at school and at West Point.
with few and brief visits at home. l
never became really well acquainted
with him till he graduated from the
Military Academy"
"Ah-h-h," continued Mr.. Barring
ton, who was beginning to have enough
of family history. but my offer. Miss
Marble-now do make me supremacy
happy"
The young lady proceeded in the
most straightforward way to clip the
sprouting wings of her suitor's passion.
'.Mr. Darlington" she said. ''none
of us knew you when you came to
town a month ago. but you intruded
yourself. and got a footing of easy ac-
quaintance in our house, on the score
of having been Major Kenyon's friend
and comrade."
"Yes," he replied, with alacrity.
"He was on General Rosecrans' staff
at Chickamauga; SO was /. in the grade
of Lieutenant He was MORALLY wound
ed in the mornings disaster; he died
in my arms"
"Then you knew him. You know
what kind of man he was. What
am about to tell you will be told you
that you may never return to this SUBJ
ject again. want to think well of you,
as Ransom's dear friend, but can't
love you. When he went to the war.
we were engaged to be married. l
never expect to care for another man. !"
I'LL
swell. young folks. good evening""
the CHEEKY voice of Colonel Bradish
sang out. 'Glad to see you. Mr.. Bar
rington; hope you're well. Ida, why
don't you have out the carriage when
you go down to the village? The
horses are spelling for want of exer-
| cise."
1.-The day was so fine. l wanted to
walk" she replied.
"Well, that's right: but the animals
have got to be kept in condition. some
way. say, young fellow-you were
on the staff, you said. and l haven't
forgot how to back horse. old as
am. What dye say to twelve-mile
gallop with me in the morning."
Mr. Darlington had nothing to say;
he was dumb at the thought. The
pressure of the voluble Coloners ideas
and speech came to his relief.
20 look here!-bOth Of you. I've
been talking with mother here about
getting up good old-fashioned
Fourth-of-July celebration. She's not
as warm for it as am, but she'll get
interested as it goes on. I've pretty
much made up my mind to do it-a
regular rouser. you know. such As they
used to have when l was a boy. You'll
help won't you. Ida? We can't dc
without YOU"
"Why. what on earth are you going
to do, father?"
"Tll tell you." and the Colone
smacked his right fist into his left palm,
and rose grandiloquently to the de
scription. '.Tl have out the two Rev
customary six-pounders at sunrise that
brought from the East years ago. ant
some of the young veterans from thu
village will fire a salute. I'll have EN-
4&aA. 81